Nearly one-quarter of college-educated workers in Utah migrated from other states, according to a new report released August 6, 2026, by the Strada Institute for the Future of Work. The analysis, titled "Talent in Motion: Interstate Migration of College-Educated Workers," shows that while two-thirds of college-educated workers remain in the state where they attended high school, migration plays a critical role in shaping state talent pools.
Mapping Talent Migration
The report, produced in collaboration with the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, categorizes college-educated workers into four distinct groups. These include individuals who work in the same state where they attended high school, graduates who leave their home state for college but return to their high school state for work, graduates who leave their high school state for college and remain there for employment, and workers who live in a state where they attended neither high school nor college.
Regional Talent Differences
The findings highlight significant differences in how states build their homegrown talent. For example, while 72 percent of college-educated workers in Michigan stayed in their home state for both college and work, only 36 percent of college-educated workers in Colorado did so. In Utah, historical data from 2023 indicated that the state's population was already trending toward higher education levels, with 23 percent of the population aged 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree, compared to 20 percent nationwide.
Economic Drivers of Migration
Economic opportunity serves as a primary driver for professionals crossing state lines. Approximately 50 percent of all college-educated individuals cited economic opportunity as their main reason for migrating, a figure that rises to 55 percent for those under the age of 50. In contrast, only 33 percent of individuals aged 50 and older reported economic opportunity as their primary motivation for moving.
Advanced Degree Migration
The migration of high-level talent is often linked to the specific degrees obtained. As far back as November 20, 2023, data from the Utah Department of Workforce Services indicated that individuals with the highest levels of education—such as Ph.D.s and professional degrees—were less likely to be employed within Utah following graduation. Instead, these individuals were more likely to move out of state, suggesting that positions requiring advanced degrees may be more abundant in other economies or that students move to pursue specialized training before departing.
The Role of Public Universities
Public higher education institutions act as vital anchors for state-level talent retention. According to the Strada Institute, approximately two-thirds of graduates from public institutions with broad-access admissions, and half of graduates from the most selective public institutions, remain in their home state to work. The report suggests that a state's ability to retain graduates is strongly predicted by the share of first-year college students drawn from that state's own population.
Shifting Workforce Demands
The landscape of Utah's workforce has seen a steady increase in education requirements. In 2016, roughly 25 percent of total positions in Utah required a higher education degree; by 2020, that figure had risen to nearly 30 percent. This shift has occurred alongside a trend where women are pursuing higher education at higher rates than men, a trend that has been observed nationally since the 1990s.
Alternative Employment Pathways
To combat labor shortages and increase upward mobility, some major employers are moving away from strict degree requirements. The State of Utah and Delta Airlines have both announced intentions to waive degree requirements for individuals with sufficient experience. This move aims to expand the pool of viable candidates for positions that previously required specific credentials.
